This interview has been edited for clarity.
Some things come and go, but there are two elements that have become ever-present in the popular Sega game Like Dragon/Yakuza series. The first is the enduring charm and influence of recurring protagonist Kazuma Kiryu, and the second, the good taste that runs through the dramatic scenes, quirky characterizations, quests, entertaining side activities, and more.
It's no surprise that the spirit of bold adventure continues in Goro Majima's next outing. After all, the Mad Dog of Shimano is a foil to Kiryu's reserved and stoic nature, with his troubled and cheerful theatrical persona fitting the mold perfectly. Striving to arouse the outrageous factor is Like a Dragon: Yakuza Pirates in Hawaii, Which turns him into a gentle swashbuckler bound for the high seas and a playable character ever since Yakuza 0, yakuza kiwami 2, and Yakuza: Dead Souls.
This transformation has been a long time coming – not only is Majima a perennial fan favorite, but his eyepatch aesthetic draws a direct comparison to pirates. Developer Ryu Ga Gotoku (RGG)'s latest title finds him as the protagonist and heads into somewhat familiar waters, starting with the Honolulu setting introduced in Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth. However, a naming convention that is not similar to the mainline may alienate fans, creating confusion about its continuity within the larger narrative.
As it turns out, Yakuza pirates in Hawaii It's more than just a sub-adventure. Speaking to a select group of Southeast Asian media during Tokyo Game Show (TGS) 2024, Producer Hiroyuki Sakamoto Clearly confirmed that this sequel will be part of the main saga, it will explore Majima's interaction with the religious organization Palekana, which first appeared in Infinite wealth.
“It's not accidental. It is a continuation of the main story. “If it had been a spin-off, it would have been a different time and place, (so) this is a continuation.” The man whose name was erased As an example of a “gaiden” or side story.
The Kiryu-focused title follows the dragon Dojima and his endeavors in Osaka under the guise of a secret agent, weaving a mix of new and familiar elements – a framework that has seen the series through its highest highs and lowest lows. to Like a Dragon: Yakuza Pirates in Hawaiithe process of crafting Majima's narrative involves embracing the qualities that best represent the character, and pairing them with a sense of modernity.
According to the director Ryosuke Horithe team had to consider “a lot of Majima sets and other miscellaneous elements”, but ultimately settled on the pirate setting because it “fits Majima's personality and is more modern”. Gone are the previous fighting styles of Slugger, Breaker, and Tug here, replaced by the all-new Mad Dog and Sea Dog stances.
The latter, in particular, is proving to be an ambitious project. It brings pirate attacks to the series for the first time, offering a flashy moveset that includes the use of swords, a firearm, and even a wire hook. Normally pressing the buttons delivers a strong or weak blow, depending on what's being played, while holding down the keys adds a special touch to it, such as rotating blades or a powerful shot.
Executing aerial combos, a rare departure from the standard fare, also forms a core part of the combat experience. In Mad Dog fashion, Majima can juggle his enemies in the air, adding a touch of excitement to the gameplay beyond the usual street brawl. It's a fun, exciting game that will leave players wanting more, as gleaned from a brief preview on PS5 at TGS 2024.
Instead of the turn-based tactical approach in Judgment Or Kasuga Ichiban with a helmet Like a dragon series, Yakuza pirates in Hawaii She continues to honor the roots of her work. When confronted, Majima will enter the fight in real-time and let his fists, kicks, and knives do the talking, with each strike delivering a clear, powerful sensation.
The agile fighter, as before, is a danger on the battlefield. His ferocious, brutal aggression makes the scene familiar, as do his fast movements – especially when the Doppelgangers join the fight. Activated when the Mad Dog meter fills up in Mad Dog style, these clones will perform different actions depending on the fighting styles in use at the time. However, the charged attacks unleash a special flair, which is a fun and exhilarating sight that is perfectly in keeping with Majima's personality.
Meanwhile, the Sea Dog pose offers a new collection of party tricks that feel good to pull off. Dueling, for example, is not fixed to just one animation or style, and can be combined with jumps to switch up the attack, from, say, a big slash to a mid-air spinning attack. The Wire Hook feature also slightly increases maneuverability, as players are able to close the gap between enemies more easily and land a ground strike, which when combined with Majima's speed, promises devastation.
For series veterans, the explosive energy and dynamism may be reminiscent of Majima's agility and quick nature in Yakuza 0This is not a coincidence. Horii reveals that Mad Dog's stance “absorbs a lot of Majima-esque elements from the past,” but there's enough modernity to be a new standalone style.
“Mad Dog's style is most similar to Majima; it's all about what makes it unique and what's alive and well in the game,” he explains. “It retains the classic elements like punching, kicking and using a blade, and in contrast, (we have) something It has a different temperament to it, (which is) a Sea Dog style.”
“You'll see old attacks from the past that will be familiar, (but) you can tell it's a new style made from the ground up,” adds the RGG (arr-GG?) veteran.
In gameplay, switching between the two combat stances proves to be seamless as players are able to easily flow from one stance to the next, playing through the combination of different combo sequences. Long key presses in Sea Dog mode take a little getting used to, joined by other small quirks Like a Dragon: Yakuza Pirates in Hawaii, Such as the two-button keybind for dodging (R1 + 'X' by default on PS5), and the Heat Action key prompt that pops up and disappears just as quickly – a frequent encounter for fans.
Where Majima's Return leans into new territory, the overall presentation of the game treads more on familiar waters. The upcoming title will still be tied to the series' bigger picture of the unnatural underworld and will include elements that are far removed from reality, which in turn reinforce the “weird” blurring between fantasy and the real world.
“The series has always combined reality and fantasy in a certain way, and this time, there's a fantasy pirate element that's been put together, almost as if it's been combined in a very satisfying way,” Sakamoto shares, pointing to the example of a pirate. The ship appears in Honolulu in the game's demo.
“It really shows how the mixing of fantasy and reality in this series is so weird,” he finished with a laugh.
In fact, an excellent presentation has become one of the mainstays and beloved elements of the business world Like a dragon / Yakuza identity. It's a testament to RGG's skill that both humor and seriousness are able to complement each other so easily, considering that the two don't always mix. At the same time as games offer funny moments and ridiculous scenarios, they are also capable of telling touching and honest stories.
While the depth of the narrative Like a Dragon: Yakuza Pirates in Hawaii Remaining a mystery for now, there will be no shortage of good-natured indignation and light-hearted fun. Even during the short time frame of the hands-on demo, Honolulu was a tempting hotbed for all sorts of side activities and mini-games, from series mainstays like shogi and karaoke to more recent additions like Crazy Delivery and kart racing. Now that Majima is running the show, the team won't hold back from upping the ante.
“Majima, compared to Kiryu, is a lively and crazy character, so you can expect a lot of things like getting new karaoke tracks – definitely more than you expect,” Hori confirms. “There's going to be a lot of that.”
Judging by his out-of-tune vocals and screams at Revolve Bar, it certainly sounds like fans are in good hands.
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii releases for PS5, PS4, PC, Xbox Series February 28, 2025.